The Anniston Star from Anniston, Alabama • A01

Anniston, Alabama www.annistonstar.com Tuesday, April 11, 2017 A home-owned newspaper 75 cents Classifieds 8B Comics 6B Crossword 9B Editorial 8A Lottery 2A Don Gaugler, Jacksonville Lucille Roberta Schaeffer Meyer, Anniston Jon Cristopher Newton, Leeds Donald Richardson, Anniston Elijah Jason Sims, Lineville Day L. Terrell, Anniston Mary Magdalene Thomas, Anniston OBITUARIES, 6A INDEX (USPS 026-440) Vol. 137, No. 101 67 6600011111 WEATHER, 10B PARTLY SUNNY HIGH: 81 LOW: 59 Courtney Taylor, Golden Springs SPORTS UNITEDHEALTHCARE TEAM SWEEPS MCCLELLAN ROAD RACES 1B Governor resigns amid affair scandal, pleads to two charges BENTLEY QUITS BENTLEY IVEY BY TIM LOCKETTE MONTGOMERY Gov. Robert Bentley pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors and resigned from office Monday, felled by a sex scandal and alleged coverup.

The governor resigned as part of a plea deal agreed to at the Montgomery County Courthouse, according to an announcement from the attorney office, and acknowledged his guilt on two charges related to campaign finance. A short time later, Bentley announced his resignation in an address to reporters, government officials and tourists who happened to be in the State Capitol. not always made the right Bentley said. not always said the right Bentley referred to his and said that have been times that let you and the people of this state down, and sorry for Once a popular Republican governor in a deep-red state, Bentley faced impeachment hearings in the House of Representatives this week, as lawmakers looked into allegations that Please see RESIGNS Page 4A CALHOUN COUNTY HONOR FLIGHT Photos by Stephen Anniston Star TOP: Veterans hold their hats over their hearts during the National Anthem. ABOVE: Veterans and their guardians wait to leave during the send-off for the 2017 Calhoun County Honor Flight to Washington D.C.

from the Oxford Civic Center. ROSWELL, Ga. Joseph Nixon is 93, a slender man with a Georgia drawl and attentive eyes and a firm handshake. a Navy man, still. Atop his head rests a blue cap.

it says. By midday today, Nixon expects to be with the Calhoun County Honor Flight in Washington, D.C., which will bring Nick what friends call him twin firsts: never seen the World War II National Memorial, and never been to the capital. Plus, his birthday. His 94th birthday. Stories abound about how aging wartime veterans react when they first see their memorials.

emotion. Appreciation. Tears. Joy. Sadness.

Remembrances of the fallen. eager for the experience, whatever it brings. I expect of he said. going to enjoy it, for Previously, Calhoun County veterans who have traveled on Honor Flight mis sions have joined with other Alabama groups, often from Jefferson County. But organizers say Honor Flight is the largest-ever Calhoun County effort, its original goal being to escort a covey of local veterans on what could be their final chance to see memorials.

Organizers, led by David Hall, a retired first sergeant in the U.S. Army, raised more than $70,000 through sponsors and donations to pay the travel expenses for the veterans and their guardians. The Calhoun County group, pressed for time, secure the required permit from the National Park Service for visit, so organizers partnered with a similar-sized group here in Roswell, whose arrangements were already set. Monday afternoon, Calhoun Honor Flight veterans and their guardians gathered at the Oxford Civic Center for their send-off: 11 World War II veterans, 16 from the Korean War and six from the Vietnam War. A musical group from Parker Memorial Baptist Church, the HeartNotes, sang Veterans escorted to capital to tour memorials Joseph Nixon waves his flag during the send-off.

Phillip Tutor Please see VETERANS Page 4A Governor Ivey: than BY EDDIE BURKHALTER Anniston City Councilman Ben Little at a work session Monday alluded to wrongdoing among former city officials, but provided no details, and asked the city to look for them. In the lengthy council session, Little asked that the immediate past city manager be asked to return to the city and answer questions regarding city finances, but Little provided council members with no details. Little asked, however, that the city pay for a forensic audit of city finances to discover potential misdeeds. City Manager Kent Davis said that forensic audits are done when there are allegations of criminal activity. have Little said, but he offered no specific concerns.

Davis said city officials would gladly answer questions about specific concerns Little might have, but that a complete forensic audit of the entire financial history would cost Little also repeated concerns expressed in recent meetings about Regional Medical deal to take over operation of Stringfellow Memorial Hospital. At a March 27 work session Little said he believes RMC had to first get council approval, and that fight the deal in court if necessary. RMC administrators on March 3 announced an agreement had been made to buy operating contract from Tennessee-based Community Health Services for $25 million. According to the agreement the deal is set to close by April 30 and become effective May 1. Bruce Downey, attorney, told The Star on March 27 that RMC has the authority to buy Stringfellow without the consent.

Last year the council restructured RMC from a public hospital corporation into a health care authority. State law allows health care authorities to purchase other health care facilities without a consent. At meeting Little said he believes the council gave the Health Care Authority board that should not have been given. want to do some more Little said. As discussion Monday continued on city finances, Davis suggested council members hold a budget retreat to discuss one goals as the city prepares to begin drafting next budget.

Councilman Little voices concern about city finances ANNISTON Please see LITTLE Page 4A BY ZACH TYLER Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey became the 54th governor of Alabama on Monday evening, after Robert Bentley pleaded guilty to campaign finance crimes and resigned. Bentley announced his resignation in a speech given not long after been arrested Monday afternoon at Montgomery County Jail on misdemeanor charges, his arrest part of a deal that ended impeachment hearings. In the speech, the former governor said spoken with Ivey, 72, about a and transfer of power.

The second woman ever to hold the post behind Lurleen Wallace, Ivey took office shortly after 6 p.m. Monday. Acting Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Lynn Stuart who also took over after a male predecessor, Roy Moore, was forced out administered the oath of office. pledge to do my very Ivey, an Auburn University graduate who coordinated campaign efforts there and has since logged a Please see IVEY Page 4A.